U.S. Carrier Strike Group Arrives in the Middle East

Latest Developments

The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group entered the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on August 21 amidst the continued threat of a potential Iranian attack against Israel and the risk of a wider regional war. The Lincoln, equipped with F-35C and F/A-18 Block III fighters, is accompanied by Destroyer Squadron 21, consisting of three guided missile destroyers. The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group was ordered to deploy to the Middle East from the Pacific on August 2 to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, which has been operating in the Middle East since July 12. The order came as part of a larger force posture adjustment by the United States intended to “improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies,” said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh in a statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Lincoln to expedite its transit to the Middle East on August 11, as the United States and Israel prepared for a potential Iranian attack. While the initial plan was for the Lincoln to replace the Roosevelt, Austin said at the time that the carrier group would be “adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group,” suggesting that both carriers could potentially remain in the region for a period of time.

Expert Analysis

“The United States has assembled an extraordinary amount of combat power in the Middle East. The effectiveness of those deployments in deterring Iranian aggression will depend largely on whether Tehran believes the Biden administration’s deployments are simply for show. A bodybuilder can have the biggest muscles in the gym, but the troublemakers will stop respecting the muscles sooner or later if they come to conclude that the bodybuilder is all muscle and no punch.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

“Deployments such as these are not ‘pain-free,’ as they challenge the readiness and maintenance models of all military services. It would be particularly galling if the Biden administration is sending these forces and assets with little intent of using them to impose costs following any Iranian provocation. If we are placing these forces in the ring, we must be prepared to let them do their job and fight.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

Increased U.S. Combat Power in the Middle East

The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group’s arrival in Central Command is the latest addition to a surge of U.S. combat power intended to increase the ability of the United States to protect its forces and defend Israel. In addition to the Lincoln, Secretary Austin also ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the Central Command region on August 11. As of August 20, the submarine was in the Mediterranean in transit to Central Command. It is unusual to announce the location of guided missile submarines, but the Pentagon did so in November with the goal of preventing a wider regional war after the October 7 terrorist attack.

On August 2, the United States dispatched additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the Eastern Mediterranean and U.S. Central Command, as well as an additional fighter squadron to the Middle East. The USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have also been deployed in the region and were operating in the Eastern Mediterranean as of August 19.

“U.S. Increases Force Posture in the Middle East Amid Iranian Threats,” FDD Flash Brief

“Blinken Warns of Imminent Attack on Israel,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah’s Escalation Strategy: Threats without Full-Scale War,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“American Forces Under Attack by Iran and its Proxies,” by Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman